Chapter 4

A couple of weeks later, the gang was having dinner around the coffee table in 4A. Leonard was the only one missing from the group. They were having the usual conversation about science while the girls were discussing some 'girl' stuff about shoes and clothes when Amy noticed Raj was quiet and didn't join the conversation.

"Rajesh, you're awfully quiet….is everything alright?" Amy asked.

Raj took a sip of his beer and replied to her. "It's nothing Amy….just some family stuff…" he said.

"Is everything okay back in India?" Amy asked Raj.

"Yeah….everything is okay back home." Raj answered. Howard decided to butt in.

"It's his sister Priya." Howard said to them.

"Dude I don't want to talk about it….please." Raj said to him.

"What happened to your sister?" Bernadette asked.

"Nothing to worry about...it's fine really." Raj said the same time the door opened and Leonard came in holding hands with his sister Priya. Everyone looked at them.

Howard spoke. "That!" he almost yelled.

Leonard greeted everyone. "Hi guys….you all remember Raj's sister Priya right?" he said as he went to his bedroom.

Priya stood there and greeted them. "Hi Sheldon!"

"Hello!" Sheldon said smiling at her.

She looked at Bernadette and Amy. "You must be Bernadette….and Amy…" she asked.

"Hi Priya!" Bernadette greeted her back.

"Hello Priya." Amy said back.

Priya then turned to Penny. "Hi Penny." she smiled at her.

Penny smiled back. "Hi Priya." she greeted back.

Howard leaned over to Bernadette and whispered 'awkward'. Bernadette nudged his side. "Howie!" she whispered.

"Rajesh?" Priya said to her brother. Raj pouted and didn't respond. "Rajesh please don't be a big baby!" Priya said to her brother. Raj still did not answer.

"Are you two gonna join us for dinner?...We have plenty of food." Amy asked the same time as Leonard came back to the living room.

"No thanks Amy...we're heading out." he said walking towards Priya. "Are you ready?" he asked Priya.

"Yeah let's go." Priya said as she held Leonard's hand and they went out of the apartment. "Bye guys!" she smiled at them.

After the door closed, everyone looked at Penny.

Penny noticed them looking at her. "What?"

No one answered as they went back to their food boxes.

Sheldon turned to Howard. "I'm not really adept in social convention but I'm sensing a little awkwardness….is it because Leonard came in holding hands with Raj's sister which implies that they are in a romantic relationship even though there is an unwritten rule among guys to never date their friend's sister?" he said.

"Let it go Sheldon." Raj cautioned him. Sheldon didn't listen.

"….Or...is it because Penny used to date Leonard but now Leonard has moved on and replaced her with an upgraded and a more suitable mate?...Hmmm." Sheldon said.

"Very good Sheldon...you're two for two!" Howard said smiling. Bernadette nudged his side. "Howie!"

Penny glared at Sheldon. "What do you mean upgraded and suitable mate?" she asked him.

Sheldon answered. "Well for starters….Priya is highly educated and a lawyer, licensed to practice law not only here in the US but also in the UK...she is a good earner…and she came from a culture that invented countless ways of having coitus...I can go on and on but I sense you are becoming uncomfortable so I'll stop now…" he said.

Penny was visibly hurt and put her food on the table. She stood up and went back to her apartment.

"What is wrong with you Sheldon!?" Bernadette yelled at him as she stood up to follow Penny. Amy stood up and followed them as well.

"I'm sensing I may have crossed some line…." he asked Raj and Howard.

Raj was about to say something when Howard quickly cut him off. "Hold on…..let's see if he can figure it out…." they both looked at Sheldon waiting for him to finish processing his thoughts.

"Is this it…..it was wrong of me to point out Priya's accomplishments to Penny who is just a community college dropout." Sheldon turned towards Howard.

"Okay Sheldon….go on…." he said.

"And….it was wrong of me to point out that Leonard has moved on from his breakup with Penny almost a year ago in front of Penny who is still single and can't seem to find a suitable mate for herself?" Sheldon said.

"Very good Sheldon!….high five!" Howard said putting up his right hand.

"Absolutely not!" he shook his head. "Do you think I should go over there and apologize to Penny?" he asked Raj.

"Well if you want to be punched in the nose again…..sure….we'll even go with you and catch it on video." Raj said.

"Hmmm….you're probably right….Penny is like a rabid wolverine when mad." Sheldon added. "I think I'll apologize to her tomorrow."

Penny sat on her couch and curled her legs up. She put her face on a throw pillow and cried. Amy and Bernadette entered her apartment and sat beside her to console her.

"I'm so sorry Penny…" Bernadette said as she put her arm over her shoulder.

"Why does it hurt Bernie….we've been broken up for almost a year now but I still can't get over him…." Penny continued crying. The two girls just sat and remained quiet for a while.

"I know!….why don't we go to a bar...or go dancing!" Amy suggested. "It can help take your mind off things…..come on!" Amy said.

"Yeah let's go Penny...it's been a while since the three of us went out for girls night!" Bernadette said.

"I guess you're right." she said as she wiped off her tears. She sighed and got off the couch. "Okay….let me get dressed." she said as she went to her bedroom. The two girls followed her.

"Which bar are we going to Penny?" Bernadette asked.

Penny answered from her bathroom. "I don't know…..Amy do you know a place?" she asked her.

"No….I was hoping you would know a place where there are a lot of dancing and sweaty bodies." Amy said.

"Oh? Okay….I know a place like that!" Penny said as she came from the bathroom, already dressed.

Bernadette sat on her bed and picked up something from Penny's nightstand. "What's this?" she asked.

Amy moved closer to take a look at it. "Hmmm...it seems like something preserved between two pieces of acrylic slides." Amy said as she examined it under the light.

Penny took it from Amy's hand. "This is the snowflake that Leonard gave me when he came back from their trip to the North Pole." she continued. "He said it will last forever." she said as she looked at it with sad eyes.

"Really?….Oh my god that is so romantic…" Bernadette giggled.

"Yeah….if a guy did something like that for me….I would literally die of excitement…" Amy said.

Penny sat on the bed, holding the piece of plastic in her hand and began to cry. Bernadette moved beside her to console her.

"Penny if you're not in the mood, we can just stay here if you want…" Bernadette said.

Penny didn't answer.

"Why don't we have a sleepover instead?" Amy said.

"That's a great idea Amy!….we'll drink wine….we can play a game…." Bernadette said. "What do you say Penny?"

She looked at them. "Okay." Penny said. She stood up and went back to the bathroom to get dressed.

The girls stayed up late, drinking wine, playing games and telling stories. They pulled the mattress to the living room to sleep on. Penny was thankful for the wine for without which, sleep won't come easy to her.